Automatic car-coupling.



Patented Mar. l2, l90l.

A. HERON. AUTOMATIC BAR COUPLING.

(Application filed m s, 1900.)

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-nu: Mumps PETERS 4 :o.. moTo-umo" WASNIHGTON. m c.

Nrrn TATES PATENT QFFICE.

ALEXANDER HERON, OF DELAWARE TOWNSHIP, CANADA.

AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION formingpart Of Letters Patent No. 669,747, dated March 12,1901.

Application filed July 5, 1900. Serial No. 22,649. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER HERON, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, and a resident of Delaware township, in the county ofMiddlesex, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a certainnew and useful Automatic Oar-Coupling, of which the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, formsa full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a device for connecting the ears in a train;and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, aswill be hereinafter first fully set forth and described and then pointedout in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of two draw-bars embodying myinvention. In this view the draw-bars are shown coupled together and thefront side of one is removed. Fig. 2 is a plan View of same. In thisview the drawbars are shown in section, and the couplinglink and weightin one of them are removed. Fig. 3 is another similar view of same,showing the draw-bars before being coupled together and in one of whichthe coupling-link is set to be automatically coupled with and by the oneopposite when they come together. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view onthe line a; a: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is another view of Fig. 4, showing theposition of the weight D when the draw-bars are coupled together. Fig. 6is a detail central horizontal sectional view of the draw-bar, showingthe cross-bar. Fig. 7 is an end view of the coupling-link looking at itfrom the outer projecting end.

In the accompanying drawings, A and A designate draw-bars, one of whichis secured to each end of a car in any manner or by any means found mostsuitable or convenient, and each draw-bar is formed with a flaring mouthA to guide and direct the end of the couplinglink in the oppositedraw-bar to the opening A and said draw-bars are each provided with thejaws A cross-bar A shoulders A stud A stop A and socket bearing A forthe purpose which willbe hereinafter set forth.

B designates a short shaft or spindle which is supported by, held inplace, and rotates perfectly free in the socket hearing A of thedraw-bar.

E designates a flange formed on one end of said shaft B, and in theother projecting end of said shaft a pin B is secured, the purpose ofsaid flange and pin being to prevent the shaft B from becomingaccidentally displaced or falling out of the draw-bar; but said shaftmay be held in place in said draw-bar in any manner or by any meansfound most suitable or convenient.

B designates a socket or opening formed in said shaft B for the purposewhich will be hereinafter set forth.

0 designates a coupling-li|1k,which extends through and is supported by,held in place, and rotates perfectly free in the socket or opening B ofthe shaft or spindle B, and this coup1ing-link O is formed with anenlarged arrow-head or end 0 with the shoulders 0 with the pin-hole Cand with the rounded corners G and to the other end of saidcoupling-link O the weight D is rigidly secured.

D designates a weight which is rigidly secured to the coupling-link C,and the outer segmental face of said weight is formed eccentric for thepurpose which will be hereinafter set forth.

F designates a chain or other flexible device which is connected to theweight D for the purpose of operating the latter, as well as the link 0secured thereto.

G designates an adjustable support pivotally secured to the under sideof the drawbar, and said support is provided with an upturned end G, onwhich the coupling-link may be supported when desired, or said supportmay be adjusted to the position shown by dotted line in Fig. 1 when notin use. Each of the draw-bars is provided with a link 0; but only onelink is necessary to couple the cars securely together, the other beingheld in reserve for any emergency, and when not in use the links Gareadjusted to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1.

When wishing to couple two cars that are some distance apart, the links0 in the drawbars at the adjacent ends of said cars are adjusted asfollows: The link 0 in one draw-bar A is adjusted to the verticalposition shown in Fig. 1 or out of the way, as it is not required, andthe link in the other draw-bar A is adjusted in a horizontal position.It is then turned or rotated in the sockets B of the spindle B until itis in the position shown in Fig. 3 or at right angles to the positionshown in Fig. 2. Said link is then drawn outward until the weight Dabuts against the spindle B. This adjusts the arm E under the stud Awhen the former is engaged with the latter. When adjusted as justdescribed, the weight D will be in the position shown in Fig. 4-that is,on the opposite side of the link to that on which the arm E engages withthe stud A and its action will be to securely hold said arm inengagement with said stud. As a result the accidental displacement ordisengagement of the arm E from the stud A will be avoided andcompletely prevented and the link 0 safely and securely retained in saidposition until the draw-bars and cars to which they are secured arecoupled together. Again, the length of the couplinglink 0 is greaterthan the distance between the spindles B when the ends of two adjacentdraw-bars abut against one another; but the distance from the spindle Bin one draw-bar to the inner end of the open space A in the body of theopposite draw-bar is greater than the length of the link 0, so that theinner end of said coupling-link can move back in the draw-bar and beperfectly safe from being crushed or otherwise injured when the drawbarsstrike together. Again, the outer projecting end C of the coupling-linkC is narrower in one cross-section; but the shoulders 0 make it wider inthe cross-section at right angles thereto than the opening A between thejaws A of the draw-bars, so that as the cars move toward one another theends of the horizontal coupling-link O when adjusted as shown in Fig. 3will freely enter the opening A of the opposite drawbar, and just beforethe draw-bars strike together the outer end of the coupling-link C willabut against the spindle B of the opposite draw-bar. When in thisposition, as the draw-bars move together said coupling-link and weightwill be adjusted inward in the draw-bar. This will adjust the arm E backand away from the stud A when the action of the weight D will be toautomatically rotate the coupling-link in the socket B of the spindle Bto the position shown in Fig. 2-

that is, with the shoulders C engaging with the jaws A This willautomatically couple and lock the draw-bars, as well as the cars towhich they are secured, together, any excess of movement of the weight Dbeyond the position shown in Fig. 5 being avoided and completelyprevented by the longest radius d of said weight coming in contact withthe stop A and when the link 0 in one draw-bar is in the verticalposition shown in Fig. 1 a portion midway between its ends abut-sagainst the bar or shoulder A of the draw-bar A, so

that if the end of the horizontal link C in the opposite draw-bar shouldbe slightly below the spindle B and abut against the side of thevertical link 0 the latter would offer sufficient resistance to adjustsaid horizontal link to couple the cars. At the same time the verticallink would be held from moving pivotally inward and upward in thedrawbar, so that all danger of said vertical link being injured fromturning up and striking the inner end of the draw bar would be avoidedand completely prevented, and the effort necessary to move said weight Dfrom the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 4 willnot only have to be continuous and gradually increased, but will have tobe greater than can be exercised by the jolting and jarring of the carsunderany circumstancesf As a result when the link is in the positionshown in Fig. 2 all accidental uncoupling of the cars will be avoidedand completely prevented. At the same time the cars may be readily andeasily uncoupled by grasping the chain F or device connected therewithextending to the top or side of the cars and drawing said chain upwarduntil the weight D is in the position shown in Fig. 4:. This will adjustthe link O to the position shown in Fig. 3 and disengage the shoulders Cfrom the jaws A and permit the dgsaw-bars and cars connected therewithto separate. By adjusting both the links C to the vertical positionshown in Fig. 1 the cars, if they did come together, would part againwithout coupling. Again, if the cars were stationary and close togetherand the draw-bars touching one another they could be readily and easilycoupled or uncoupled, as follows: If the cars were stationary andcoupled together and it was required to uncouple them, this could bereadily and easily accomplished by drawing the chain F upward until theweight D was in the position shown in Fig. 4. This would adjust the link0 to the position shown in Fig. 3. When in this position, by adjustingthe link 0, with the spindle B as a pivot, down through the opening A tothe vertical 'position shown in Fig. l the draw-bars of the cars wouldbe uncoupled. Again, if the cars were stationary, uncoupled, and thedrawbars in contact and it was required to couple them this could bereadily and easily accomplished by adjusting the link 0 to the verticalposition shown in Fig. 1. When in this position, by adjusting said link0, with the spindle B as a pivot, up through the opening A to ahorizontal position as soon as the link 0 was released the weight Dwould automatically adjust itself to the position shown in Fig. 5 androtate the link 0 until the shoulders O engaged with the jaws A when thecars would be securely coupled together. Again, by providing thedraw-bars with the shoulders A against which the short shaft or spindleB abuts, a wide and strong hearing surface for said spindle is provided.

- ed or curved, as shown in Fig. 8.

Again, two of the corners of the coupling-link O diagonally opposite oneanother are round- The support G is adjusted in front of the opening Aand the link C is supported thereon when constructed and arranged asjust described. As the outer end of said link strikes the flaring mouthof the opposite draw-bar the upper rounded corner lowers one side andthe lower rounded corner raises the opposite side of the coupling-link.As a result when the coupling-link, adjusted as shown in Fig. 2, withthe weight adjusted as shown in Fig. 5,strikes the flaring mouth of theopposite draw-bar said link is automatically rotated to the positionshown in Fig. 3 and enters the opening A of the opposite draw-bar, andas soon as the shoulders on said link pass in beyond the jaws A theweight D automatically adjusts the link to the position shown in Fig. 2,so that the link C is automatically rotated to enter the opposite drawbar and then automatically returned to its normal position again tocouple the cars together. In this case it would not be necessary toengage the arm E with the shoulders A of the draw-head A in order toautomatically couple the cars together.

The outer projecting end of the couplinglink 0 is provided with abolt-hole 0 so that it may be coupled with ordinary or other automaticcoupler while this one is being introduced, and the spindle B rotatingfreely in the draw-bar and the coupling-link C rotating and adjustablelengthwise freely in said spindle the different operating parts of thecoupling are perfectly free to adapt themselves to loaded or unloadedcars, or cars of different height and to inequalities or curves in theroad'loed. As a result all danger of injury to this coupling from one ormore of the operative parts binding on the other is avoided andcompletely prevented, so that cars provided with couplings constructedaccording to this invention could come together and be automaticallycoupled or part again without coupling,- as desired, and at the sametime one in which the cars when stationary and the draw-bars in contactmay be readily and easily coupled or uncoupled, as desired, and at thesame time a device is provided which is simple, strong, and durable inconstruction and efficient in practical use.

I have found by experiment that the construction herein shown anddescribed gives the best results. At the same time, while I prefer thesame, I do not wish to limit myself to the details thereof, as they maybe modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In an automaticcar-coupling, a drawbar, provided with a stud, A and stop, A and inwhich a socket-bearing, A is formed,

a spindle, B, rotating freely in said socketbearing in said draw-bar,and provided with a socket or opening, B, and a coupling-link, 0,extending through the opening, 13, in said spindle, B, and rotating andadjustable lengthwise freely therein, in combination with a weight, D,provided with an eccentric segmental face, and with an arm, E,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an automatic car-coupling, a drawbar provided with a stud, A andstop, A and in which a socket-bearing, A is formed, a spindle, B,rotating freely in said socketbearing in said draw-bar, and providedwith a socket or opening, 13, a coupling-link, 0, provided withshoulders, G and extending through the opening, 13, in said spindle, B,and rotating and adjustable lengthwise freely therein, and a weight, D,provided with an eccentric segmental face, and with an arm, E, incombination with a draw-bar, A, provided with the jaws, A and daringmouth,

A and in which an opening, A, is formed, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In an automatic car-coupling, a drawbar provided with a stud, A andstop, A and in which a socket-bearing, A is formed, a spindle, B,rotating freely in said socketbearing in said draw-bar and provided witha socket or opening, B, a coupling-link, 0, provided with shoulders, 0and extending through the opening, B, in said spindle, B, and rotatingand adjustable lengthwise freely therein, and a weight, D, provided withan eccentric segmental face, and with an arm, E, in combination with adraw-bar, A, provided with the jaws, A flaring mouth, A ,bar, A andshoulders, A, and in which an opening, A is formed, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

4. In an automatic car-coupling, a drawbar provided with a stud, A andstop, A and in which a socket-bearing, A is formed, a spindle, B,rotating freely in said socketbearing in said dra\v-bar, and providedwith a socket or opening, B, a coupling-link, 0,

provided with shoulders, C and extending through the opening, B, in saidspindle, B, and rotating and adjustable lengthwise freely therein, and aweight, D, provided with an eccentric segmental face, and with an arm,E, in combination with the draw-bar, A, provided with the jaws, A andflaring mouth, A and in which an opening, A", is formed, and theoperating device, F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

, 5. In an automatic car-coupling, a drawbar provided with a stud, A andstop, A and in which a socket-bearing, A", is formed, a spindle, B,rotating freely in said socketbearing in said draw-bar, and providedwith a socket or opening, B, a coupling-link, C, provided withshoulders, 0 and extending through the opening, B, in said spindle, B,and rotating and adjustable lengthwise freely ISO therein, and a weight,D, provided with an In testimony whereof I have signed my eccentricsegmental face, and with an arm, name in the presence of the twoundersigned 10 E, in combination with the draw-bar, A pro- Witnesses.

vided With the jaws, A flaring mouth,A bar, A

A and shoulders, A and in which an open- ALEXANDER HERON ing, A isformed, and the operating device, Witnesses:

F, substantially as and for the purpose set P. J. EDMUNDS,

forth. M. BRAUND.

